Tool



Oct. 9, 1945. P. BROOKS TOOL Filed March 10, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

INVENTOR By R E. BROOKS A TTORNEV Oct. 9, 1945.

Filed March 10, 1944 P; E. BROOKS 2,386,290

TOOL

.2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fla. 2

/NVEN7-OR P. E. BROOKS BV I $.QIHM

ATTORNEY structure.

Patented Oct. 9, 1945 UNITED stares PATENT OFFICE TOOL Percy E. Brooks, Wood-Ridge, N. .L, assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 10, 1944, Serial No. 525,881 8 Claims, (01. 1s4 118) This invention relates to tools, and more particularly to variable material working tools.

An object of the invention is to provide a material working tool, particularly of the punch type, which is simple in structure, highly variable and readily assembled.

With this and other objects in view, the invention comprises a material working element having a plurality of working portions, a body adapted to receive the element in a selected one of a plurality of positions, and a unit adapted to secure the element to the body in any selected one of the positions.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the tool illustrating one of a plurality of arrangements of the parts of the structure, and

Fig. 2 is an end elevational View of the tool, portions thereof being shown in cross-section.

Referring now to the drawings, attention is first directed to the material working elements identified by reference numerals l8 and II. In the present illustration these elements are substantially identical except that they vary in width and also in the contour of their material working ends. The element l8has material working ends l4 and I5 of the contours or widths shown in Fig. 2. It will be noted that the material working end I5 is equivalent to the full width of the element 8, while the material working end I4 is considerably smaller in width. ,The element II has material working ends I6 and H, the ends l6 being, in the present instance, substantially twice the width of the material working end i4, while the material working end I! is slightly smaller in width than the material working end |5 of the element 8. Otherwise, the elements If] and II have similar features in that their lengths are identical and they are each provided with lateral grooves I9 and28.

A holder for the material working elements in- -cludes abody with an integral shank 26 adjacent the center thereof and extending vertically therefrom for mounting in a ram 27 of a press (not shown). It should be understood that the ram 21 may be a part of the conventional type of punch press, which includes also a work support for a die which may be associated with this A locating member 30 secured to or formed integral with the body 25, extends the full length thereof and is disposed adjacent one edge of the body, as illustrated in Fig. 2. A T-shaped slot 3| extends the full length of the member 38 as shown. A surface 32 of the member 38 and an adjacent surface 33 of the body 25 form locating portions for the elements l8 and II or other elements of similar structures but with varying material engaging ends. 7

Units, indicated generally at 35, perform two functions, one being to secure any selected material working element in any one of the plurality of positions to the body 25 and to also serve as a stripping means to strip the material, indicated at. 36, from the element. There are shown two units 35 in the present embodiment. It should be understood that any desired number of these units may be employed, there being provided in the tool holding means for receiving three of these units. The units include members 38 having square heads 39 selectively receivable in any of a plurality of T-shaped slots 48 in the body 25. The lower ends of the members 38 are reduced, as at 4|, and have annular grooves .42 therein. Threads 43 are provided on the members 38 adjacent the reduced ends 4|, to receive nuts 44 and washers 45. Clamping elements 46, of the contours shown, are apertured, as at 41, to receive their respective members 38 and have reduced inner portions including tapered or cam surfaces 48 which are receivable in any of the grooves I8 and 28. Convexed or rounded portions 49 are positioned to engage the under surface of the body 25 adjacent T-shaped slots 48, and to rock thereon to force the material working elements, being clamped into position, into intimate engagement with the surfaces 32 and 33. brought about through the driving of the nuts 44 on the threaded portions 43 of the members 38. The angular'relationship of the surfaces 48, and those of the grooves i8 or-28 which they engage, with respect to the surfaces 32 and 33 during the movement of the element 46 about its fulcrum 48 causes the elements l8 and II to be forced into intimate engagement with the surfaces 32 and 33.

A material stripping unit 58 is removably mounted upon the reduced portion 4| of each of the units 35, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The units 58 include head portions 5| centrally apertured, at 52, to receive the reduced portions 4| and threadedly apertured for set screws 53 adapted for interengagement with their respective annular grooves 42. Sleeves 54 are mounted adjacent the corners of the head portion 5| and have interconnecting pins 55 carried by a material engaging pad or plate 56. Threaded lower ends (not shown) of the pins 55 may be disposed in threaded apertures 1n the pad 56 to complete the connection therebe- This is having square heads 62 receivable in the T-shaped slot 3| and threaded shank portions for receiving nuts 63 and washers 64 for securing the-members, and thus the units, at any desired position with respect to the member 30. Reduced shank portions 65 of the members 6| have annular grooves 66 therein adapted to receive the inner ends of set screws 61 of head portions 68 of their respective units. A pressure pad or plate 69 is connectedto the head portion 68 through interconnected' pins 10 and sleeves 1!, about which are disposed compression springs 12 to normally urge the pressure pad 69 into general alignment with the pressure pad 56. It will be apparentthat an inner edge 13 of the head portion 68 of each unit 6!? lies in-a plane with the surface 3 2 to assist in supporting its respective element [0 or H when forced into place by its respective-unit 35.

in preparing the variable tool for operation, one or more of the material working elements [0 or H or other elements similar in structure but of varying widths and/or varying contours of the material working ends, may be selected to'be secured to the body 25. In the present embodiment only two sizes of material working elements with four dilferent contours of material working surfaces are illustrated and are mounted at spaced positions. Due to the fact that two material working elements l0 and II are mounted in the body through the aid of their units 35, two units 60 are employed and are located through longitudinal adjustment of their members 61 in the T' shaped slot 3! for location adjacent their respectivematerial working elements. If desired,

either one of these material: workin elements may be mounted singly inthe body 25, and if such should be the case, it would be preferred that this element be mounted adjacent the center of the structure. The unit selected for mounting the chosen material Working element would be con- 'nected to the body 25 through the central r shaped slot M]. In this instance one of the unitsfifl would be employed and would be located adjacent the center of the structure, to assist in supporting the material working element and to cooperate with the unit in stripping the material from the chosen material working end of the element. 7

It is apparent that with this structure a companion die or work support is necessary and that there exists a relative movement between this structure and the companion die to complete the operation upon the material. It is believed, however, that such additional structure is not necessai'yfor acomplete and clear understanding of the invention. Furthermore, numerous figures could be added to the drawings to illustrate the numerous variations which might exist in the width of the material working elements and the contours of their material working ends, but such is not believed necessary to teach the scope of the invention.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood that they are but illustrative and that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A variable tool comprising an element having material working ends, a support therefor having surfaces lying in transverse planes, a unit adapted to secure the element to the support by forcing either material working end into intimate engagement with the surfaces, a material stripping unit, and means to secure the material stripping unit to the securing unit.

2. A variable tool comprising a material workin element, a support therefor having surfaces lying in transverse planes, a unit adapted to secure the element to the support by forcing it into intimate engagement with the said surfaces, and material stripping units mounted upon different sides of the element.

3. A variable tool comprising a material working element, a support therefor having surfaces lying in transverse planes, aunit adapted to secure the element to the support by forcing'it into intimate engagement with the said surfaces, 2. material stripping unit supported by the clamping unit at one side of the element, and another stripping unit carried by the support at another side of the element.

4. A variable tool-comprising an element having material working ends, a support having a plurality of mounting positions, means adapted for conneetion with the support at any one of the positions to selectively secure the element to the support adjacent thereto, a material stripping unit, and means adapted to secure the stripping unit to the support at any one of a plurality of positions relative thereto and to the element.

5. A Variable tool comprising material working elements, a support therefor-having a plurality of mounting positions, means adapted for connection with the support at selected numbers of the said positions to secure the elements to the support adjacent thereto, material stripping units, and means adapted to secure the stripping units to the supports at variablepositions adjacent-the elements.

6. A variable tool comprising an element having opposed material working endsand clamp engaging portions therefor, a support therefor having surfaces lying in transverseplanes, a clam adapted for interengagemei'it with the element at either of'the said portions, and means carried by the support for moving the clamp relative thereto to force the element into intimate engagement with the said surfaces.

'7. A variable tool comprising an element having opposing material working'surfaces of varied contours and clamp engaging portions therefor, a support therefor having surfaces lying in transverse planes, a clamp adapted for interengagement with the element at either of the said portions, and means carried by the support for moving the clamp relative thereto to force theelement into intimate engagement with the said surfaces.

8. A variable tool comprising a punch element having material working ends of varied contours, a support therefor having surfaces lying in transverse planes, and a unit adapteli to secure the element to the support by forcing either material working end into intimate engagement with the surfaces.

PERCY E. BROOKS. 

